Rawls is a graduate student who is in the process of earning a bachelor's degree from Michigan, making him eligible for one season.

"We are looking forward to Thomas joining our program and helping us compete for a championship." head coach Dan Enos said. "He is a hard working, talented player who will bring depth and leadership to our running backs unit. I feel like we have one of the deepest groups of running backs in the Mid-American Conference."

Rawls, a 2011 graduate of Flint Northern High School, earned three letters at Michigan, appearing in 27 games and carrying 73 times for 333 yards (a 4.6 yards per carry average). He scored five touchdowns.

The vast majority of Rawls' statistical success came as a sophomore in 2012, when he carried 57 times for 242 yards and four TDs. It was during that season that Rawls rushed for a career-high 90 yards in a 45-0 win over Illinois. Included in that rushing total was a career-best 63-yard run.

At Flint Northern, Rawls rushed for 1,585 yards and scored 19 touchdowns during his senior season (2010), was a unanimous selection to The Associated Press All-State Team, was named the Most Valuable Player in the Saginaw Valley Conference, was rated the No. 39 player on The Detroit News Blue Chip list and was listed as the 15th-best player in Michigan according to the Detroit Free Press.

Rawls was rated the No. 19 high school player in Michigan by Rivals.com, and the nation's 77th running back according to Scout.com.